July 24, 2008

WASHINGTON – The grassroots free-market group Americans for Prosperity (AFP) today released its “Freedom from Foreign Oil” scorecard, which ranks U.S. Representatives based on their support for – or opposition to – policies that would lower gas and energy prices by increasing American supplies and making domestic production less expensive.

The 270,000-strong citizen group will also distribute “Friend of Foreign Oil” t-shirts bearing the OPEC flag to the House leadership and 156 poor-performing House lawmakers who scored zero.

“Advancing policies that limit U.S. energy production and supplies puts our national security in jeopardy and costs American families and businesses dearly,” said AFP President Tim Phillips. “Expanding American oil and natural gas production is essential to alleviating pain at the pump. Our Freedom from Foreign Oil scorecard will educate citizens on whether their Member of Congress has supported or opposed legislation that will reduce our costly and dangerous dependence on foreign oil.”

The “Freedom from Foreign Oil” scorecard ranks lawmakers based on a composite score of eight roll call votes and co-sponsorship of three initiatives that would positively or negatively impact gas and energy prices. Co-sponsorships of bills that would allow off-shore and ANWR drilling were scored positively, while co-sponsorship of a cap-and-trade regulatory regime was scored negatively. Lawmakers received positive marks for votes against punitive tax hikes on domestic oil and energy, and negative marks for a vote to oppose opening the outer continental shelf to natural gas exploration.

In total, 172 U.S. Representatives were designated “Friends of the American Motorist” for achieving scores of 70 percent or higher, and 117 House lawmakers received perfect scores. The 214 Representatives with scores of 17 percent or lower were named “Friends of Foreign Oil.” AFP distributed t-shirts bearing the OPEC flag to the Capitol Hill offices of 156 lawmakers who scored zero, as well as localized news releases to media in their districts. Among those labeled “Friends of Foreign Oil” were House leadership members Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Rep. Steny Hoyer, Rep. James Clyburn, and Rep. Rahm Emanuel.

The “Freedom from Foreign Oil” scorecard is part of AFP’s ongoing nationwide effort to expose the unaffordable costs of global warming alarmism, especially with regard to domestic energy policies. The campaign includes a “No Climate Tax Hike Pledge” for candidates and elected officials, and a nationwide hot air balloon tour to rally grassroots opposition to unaffordable energy tax hikes being advanced under the guise of fighting global warming.

Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is a nationwide organization of citizen leaders committed to advancing every individual’s right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFP believes reducing the size and scope of government is the best safeguard to ensuring individual productivity and prosperity for all Americans. AFP educates and engages citizens in support of restraining state and federal government growth and returning government to its constitutional limits. For more information, visit www.americansforprosperity.org